Abstract:
BRFSS is a state-based, random-digit--dialed telephone survey of the noninstitutionalized U.S. civilian population aged >18 years. Data were collected from the 50 states, District of Columbia (DC), Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Response rates were calculated using Council of American Survey and Research Organizations (CASRO) guidelines; for 2005 and 2007,* respectively, median response rates were 51.1% and 50.6% and cooperation rates were 75.1% and 72.1%.† A total of 15,725 respondents with missing arthritis or HD data were excluded, resulting in a final sample of 757,959.

Purpose:
Being physically active is an important component of heart disease (HD) management (1); however patients with HD are less likely to comply with physical activity recommendations than those without HD (2). Arthritis is a common co-morbidity among persons with HD, and arthritis-associated joint pain and fear of further joint damage can be an unrecognized barrier to physical activity among persons ... with HD (CDC, unpublished data, 2008). To provide estimates of the magnitude of this problem at the state level, CDC combined 2005 and 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to estimate overall and age- and sex-specific prevalence of self-reported doctor-diagnosed arthritis among adults aged >18 years with self-reported HD, and the prevalence of physical inactivity among adults with HD by arthritis status. For results or for more information, visit: <http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5807a2.htm>

Quality
To generate nationwide estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), data from 2005 and 2007 for the 50 states and DC were combined, and an annual average weighting was applied to account for multistage probability sampling. Data for arthritis and heart disease were not collected in all states in 2006, and so, were not included. To assess factors potentially confounding an association between ... doctor-diagnosed arthritis and physical inactivity among those with heart disease, data were combined across states, in unadjusted and adjusted (by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education level, and BMI) logistic regression models. All other estimates in this report are unadjusted. Estimates were calculated for the 50 states, DC, and territories. Because states are most interested in the number of affected persons and unadjusted prevalence for use in planning and resource allocations, unadjusted state-specific estimates are provided in this report. Statistical significance was determined by the chi-square test (p<0.05).

US Department of Health and Human Services. 2008 physical activity guidelines for Americans. Hyattsville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services; 2008. Available at http://www.health.gov/paguidelines.

Nelson ME, Rejeski WJ, Blair SN, et al. Physical activity and public health in older adults: recommendation from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Circulation 2007;116:1094--105.